5 Tips Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Health ‘Down There,’ According to Gynecologist, Mary Jane Minkin, MD., LLC

GUILFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A survey of 391 women conducted by the Women’s Sexual Health Foundation
found that 72% of respondents are uncomfortable talking to their gyno
about “the sexy stuff,” but 73% would rather die than ask the Doc,
“What’s up.”

“If something serious is going on, early diagnosis is CRUCIAL,” says
Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and
Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine, author of A
Woman’s Guide to Sexual Health.
Believe it or not, talking to your
doctor can calm your fears and get your problems solved. Below are a few
questions and answers I get from my patients.”

1. I am recently single and worried about getting an STD. Should I
get the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is approved by the FDA for girls and women ages 9 to 26
and is recommended by the CDC, the American College of Obstetrics,
Gynecology and the American Academy of Pediatrics. There is actually a
new improved vaccine active against 9 strains of HPV and protects
against 75% of cancers—so even better! Check out Gardisil
9
website to get the direct scoop. Remember, the HPV vaccine does
not protect women from other STD’s—so, be sure to use a condom.

2. Sometimes I have an odor the morning after sex or my period. Why
does it happen and what can I do?

Don’t worry—you aren’t dirty and washing with perfumed soap or douching
won’t help—it will only make it worse! This happens because the vaginal
pH has been thrown out of balance. Think of your vagina as a delicate
ecosystem that needs to be maintained at a pH of 3.5 to 4.5. The pH of
semen has a pH of 8 and blood has a pH of 7.4, so, when introduced to
the vagina, an odor or itch can occur—usually the morning after having
sex or toward the end of your period. Lots of women douche to feel clean
and fresh, but understand that water has a pH of 7—so while it might
make you feel fresh for a short time, it won’t solve the problem. Right
after using the douche solution, make sure to balance the pH to normal.
Over-the-counter, RepHresh
Gel
is clinically shown to restore the normal vaginal pH and
eliminate vaginal odor.

3. I have a lot of discharge and irritation, but over the counter
yeast medications don’t work.

Of women who self-treat for yeast: two thirds do not actually have a
yeast infection at all: 1/3 have bacterial vaginosis (BV), a
proliferation of “bad” bacteria, often caused by an unbalanced vaginal
pH, and the other 1/3 have an allergic/irritant type reaction to scented
products, etc. If you aren’t sure whether your symptoms indicate BV or a
yeast infection, you should absolutely see your doctor before you apply
any over-the-counter treatment. Not only is bacterial vaginosis
uncomfortable and frustrating, but untreated BV can also increase the
risk of premature birth, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even sexually
transmitted diseases. Once BV is diagnosed, a course of antibiotics is
required to eliminate the symptoms. Recurrence rates are very high. The
best way to prevent recurrent BV is to maintain a normal vagina pH.

4. I’m menopausal and have been experiencing discomfort.

The majority of postmenopausal women show an increase in vaginal pH
within 12-24 months of discontinuing estrogen therapy or as estrogen
levels decline naturally, and most women will also experience dryness. Replens
Moisturizer
can be used as often as every 3-5 days for comfort and
to bring the pH to its normal levels.

“If going to the gyno isn’t at the top of the list, it should definitely
be right up there. A well-established relationship with your
gynecologist is a MUST in order to have a successful visit. Remember to
take your notes and questions in with you so you don’t forget anything.
Talking about your anxieties can make the rest of the appointment a
piece of cake,” adds Minkin.

Contacts

for Mary Jane Minkin, MD., LLC
Brad Ginsburg, 713-721-4774
bradg@gcomworks.com

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